Which books have the greatest movie potential?

Lights...camera....ACTION! (hope the director read the book.)

from GalCiv2 Forums

Hello, this is a companion post to "Who is your favorite author?", and the question above is the topic. Books have been being adapted into movies for a long time, sometimes the results are excelent, (Lord of the Rings RULES!) and sometimes the results are awful. But many books have great potential as movies, but haven't been adapted to the silver screen. (Not yet, that is.) So, I've created this post so we can share our opinions on which books we'd like to see turned into movies. Have fun!

My nominees are as follows:

Namoi Novik's Temeraire series. I love the concept of dragons used as an air force in the Napoleanic Wars, and the battle scene at the end would be a heart-stopper on a movie screen.

Michael Chrichton's Next. The Jurassic Park movies had almost nothing in common with the book and its sequel, and the plot of Next is more realistic, so it won't be reduced to a silly CGI-fest if it gets turned into a movie.

And last but not least, Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series. The epic battle scenes and huge cast of characters would fit well in a movie, and the concept of aliens invading during WW2 is off-the-wall enough to give the action genre a well-deserved kick in the pants.

 

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Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
I would suggest Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. In fact, there's been several deals, but none have really gone through yet.

Also, Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I would love to see a faithful movie version of The Moon is Down, by John Steinbeck (one of my favorites of his). It is an excellent book, and the message is just as relevant today as it was back then.

I was going to say The Road, but there already is one being made so we'll see how it turns out.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Enders Game by Orsen Scott Card is in the works. It may or may not come through. There are lots of difficulties around making it happen. How do you find a 7 year old that can act like a military genius. Battleroom etc.

Another Card book was specifically written for different media types called Empire. Its also a fun little read. It would easily conver to a movie.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
The X-Wing series. I would LOVE to see some of those space battles, especially some of the BIG ones with huge fleets. Then again, some of the ones where Rogue squadron by themselves kill/drive off cap ships would also be cool. As would some of the ground combat stuff too... Hmm - how about making it all???
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If it's done correctly, World War Z would make a sick ass movie.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan, if they get the right actors it would be pretty good. unless. maybe their making one, who knows. www.imdb.com XD
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Larry Niven's Ringworld books perhaps? (Part of his 'Known Space' series)
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Nine posts and noone mentioned George R R Martin!?
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
Enders Game by Orsen Scott Card is in the works. It may or may not come through. There are lots of difficulties around making it happen. How do you find a 7 year old that can act like a military genius. Battleroom etc. Another Card book was specifically written for different media types called Empire. Its also a fun little read. It would easily conver to a movie.


I second this motion. I would love for Ender's Game to be adapted, but am simultaneously fearful of how it could be blundered.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
Tom Clancy's Red Strom Rising would be an excellent movie, if they don't mess it up like they did with another book of his The Sum of all Fears.
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

And last but not least, Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series. The epic battle scenes and huge cast of characters would fit well in a movie, and the concept of aliens invading during WW2 is off-the-wall enough to give the action genre a well-deserved kick in the pants.
 



If it's done correctly, World War Z would make a sick ass movie.


I second both of those.

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
I would love to see a live-action version of the Dragon lance books. Another good one would be a live action movie of the hobbit (please do not have peter jackson do this, cause he ruined the ending to the LOTR books). I would have to second the Enders game movie and the world war series.

Another good movie would be the william shatner books that he wrote about star trek, kirk with picard and thier evil mirror universe counterparts, very funny books.
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
Another good movie would be the william shatner books that he wrote about star trek, kirk with picard and thier evil mirror universe counterparts, very funny books

i could have sworn they made an episode like that, where the other spock had a mustache.
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i could have sworn they made an episode like that, where the other spock had a mustache.


They did...in a manner of speaking. It was an episode of The Original Series, known as "Mirror,Mirror".
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top
Nine posts and noone mentioned George R R Martin!?


A TV-series by HBO is in the works. One season for each book.
Epic? Yes!

I would say something like the Nights Dawn Triology, although they are three books 1200 pages each :P
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i know this may not be a book but a half-life movie would be cool

and now the book the Logan's run Trilogy could be cool
Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
I would like to see David Weber's "Honor Harrington" Series made into a mini-series with some full length movies added.
Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top
I would like to see David Weber's "Honor Harrington" Series made into a mini-series with some full length movies added.


That's got real potential. Although picking out a good actress to play Harrington could prove difficult.
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top
I would love to see a live-action version of the Dragon lance books.

They made the cartoon didn't they???

Another good one would be a live action movie of the hobbit (please do not have peter jackson do this, cause he ruined the ending to the LOTR books)


Already happening - can't remember if PJ ended up getting it or not - there were some contract disputes. IIRC, he ended up not doing it - don't hold me to that.

Another good movie would be the william shatner books that he wrote about star trek, kirk with picard and thier evil mirror universe counterparts, very funny books.


One of the ones that you are talking about is "The Return" I think. The Borg and Romulans team up and temporarily bring Kirk back to life using nanites. McKoy was in that one as well as Bashier. Based on this, V'Ger was created by The Borg and they went and bombed The Borg homeworld, where Kirk dies (AGAIN).

Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I would like to see David Weber's "Honor Harrington" Series made into a mini-series with some full length movies added.That's got real potential.


Although picking out a good actress to play Harrington could prove difficult.


Seconded, but there's way too much material to be a miniseries. It would have to be a full series like BSG.

Casting such a show used to be a hot topic on Baen's Bar, but nothing's ever come of it. The only name I remember is that Angelina Jolie is absolutely banned from any role. Weber loathes her as an actor and as a person.

As a good second choice, I'd like to see selected parts of Known Space in TV/movie form.
Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top
I may sound like all others but id really like to see a Halo Prequel movie or a Halo movie its self. It could be really good if they get a good director
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Nine posts and noone mentioned George R R Martin!?

Ugh, no. The books are bad enough. With respect to you and the rest of his fans, I can't stand his writing.
A TV-series by HBO is in the works. One season for each book.

Words cannot possibly express how appalled I am to hear this, especially seeing how there are so many better authors out there who actually deserve to have their work translated to the small/large screen. :(


I would like to see David Weber's "Honor Harrington" Series made into a mini-series with some full length movies added.That's got real potential.

Oh, absolutely! Although I agree with WIllythemailboy that it would be better as an actual TV series.

Casting such a show used to be a hot topic on Baen's Bar, but nothing's ever come of it. The only name I remember is that Angelina Jolie is absolutely banned from any role. Weber loathes her as an actor and as a person.

....Which is a pity in a way, as I think she resembles the character far more than any other actress I know of. That said, though, I can't blame him, as I largely agree with his opinion(s) of her.

Katie Sackhoff, perhaps? Or how about -- especially given that Honor is supposed to have Oriental features from her mother -- Grace Park? (You mentioning BSG inspired my choices. :p )

Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
I think Gridlinked and Brass Man by Neal Asher would be really good sci-fi, and Brass Man has some insane action. :D
Reply #25 from Demigod Forums Top
Enders Game by Orsen Scott Card is in the works. It may or may not come through. There are lots of difficulties around making it happen. How do you find a 7 year old that can act like a military genius. Battleroom etc.


I hope that some day a good version will be created. The story is great!